The opening stakes race for the season delivered an incredible finish between a trio of talented gallopers, but after a tense wait, the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) went the way of Adrian Bull’s Jay Bee Gee.
Jay Bee Gee had run in just one race since finishing back in the field in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) last November, with Bull returning to Riccarton to win the Amberley Cup (1600m) in June before preparing him for Saturday’s contest, concluding with a trial victory at Foxton on July 26.
The unique preparation turned out to be the perfect winning formula for the son of Complacent, who got in on the minimum of 53kg under Kelly Myers, while defending champion Belardo Boy was tasked with the 60kg top-weight and sat a $5.50 second-favourite, with Freeze Frame on top of the market at $5 with horse racing bookmakers.
Jumping from barrier 16, Myers ensured she wouldn’t be caught wide going forward to sit outside the early leader in Green Luck, with the initial pace short-lived as Craig Grylls sent Bradman onto the speed at the 1000 metre mark.
Bradman left much of the field flat-footed and Jay Bee Gee went with him, the gelding looking to be running into second for much of the straight before Freeze Frame came scorching down the outside and the trio went to the post in unison, with a photo-finish required between the latter pair leaving an anxious wait for connections.
The judge’s call eventually announced Jay Bee Gee the victor, with Te Akau’s charge Freeze Frame going down by the barest of margins and Bradman a further nose behind in third, while Justaskme was gallant running into fourth.
Hunterville-based Bull and his emerald green colours are no stranger to the winner’s circle at Riccarton Park, having won the 2017 edition with former star Nashville, a horse Myers fittingly rode to victory in the Group 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Otaki WFA Classic (1600m) over a decade ago.
Myers cut an emotional figure post-race, paying tribute to Bull’s late wife Robyn, who sadly passed in late September last year.
“I’m just so over the moon, I can’t explain how happy I am for Adrian and his family, Robyn will be up there looking down on us,” she said.
“They are great family friends of ours, and they’ve been huge supporters of myself and Rosie (Fell, sister). We love winning a maiden race in these colours, so to win a Winter Cup for them is very special.
“I didn’t think we were going to get past Bradman, he put up a really tough fight. I think Warren helped us more than anything, finishing down the outside and I had a feeling I had my nose in front, but I saw Warren throw his hand in the air and I thought oh well, he’s obviously thought he’s got it.
“I was just really quietly hopeful cantering back. I thought it was a dead-heat and I would’ve been happy with that, but to get it on our own is just awesome.”
The victory capped off a wonderful return to race riding over the past eight months for Myers, who made a much-welcomed comeback to the jockey ranks in December and picked up 30 winners in the second-half of last season.
“I’m just really happy to be out there again,” she said.
“My manager asked me what my goals are for the season and I think I’d like to double last season’s tally so about 60 winners, and a Group One would be nice.”
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